MAPAMOND

 MANAGEMENT

 

pag. 27	Municipal asset management or mismanagement? A six ‘Whats' perspective on current practices and challenges in Ethiopia's urban water sector Author: Tendayi GONDO
	Abstract Effective systems of asset management can strengthen the performance of a local economy and community significantly. Despite the existence of new and interactive technologies for recording and communicating assets and asset management, many local authorities across the developing world have not taken advantage of the emerging revolutionary ways in which technologies may benefit municipal asset management. The analysis reviews the current practices, challenges and policy options for Ethiopian cities with regard to the state of the art technology for Municipal Asset Management (MAM) in the water and sanitation sector. Empirical evidence relate to a number of independent studies carried out in a sample of Ethiopian cities and towns. The pooling together of these findings was achieved through the Comparative Studies framework. In addition, data was also solicited from a panel of experts dealing with water and sanitation issues. The overall analysis was done within the context of the six Whats? Framework. Results indicate that, the water sector has gone through a number of reforms that have not cascaded into improved infrastructure asset management. Lack of financial resources, human resource expertise and appropriate organizational strategy has constrained the adoption and application of system software for effective asset management. JEL Classification: R51, R53, C82, C88, L86 Keywords: asset plan, system software, strategy, infrastructure, maintenance

 

pag. 43	Rural buyers' perception about mosquito repellants Author:   D. MEHTA, Anand GARG,  Naveen K. MEHTA
	Abstract Mosquito repellants prevent mosquito bites and prevention of "man-mosquito contact" is a critical factor in transmission and spread of any disease through mosquitoes particularly in rural area. There has been a long standing 'bias' towards rural buyers. The rural markets are considered rigid in the nature but it is not the case in real sense. Marketing to rural buyers is not only a challenge to the marketers but to the manufacturers, communicators, national planners and economists as well. That is why it has been necessary to understand the various aspects of selected rural areas and consumption pattern for such a fast growing market i.e. mosquito repellants and rural buyers' perception towards such urban products. The present paper aims to find out the factors influencing the purchase decisions of rural buyers for mosquito repellants and to study the perceptions of present and potential rural buyers' of selected mosquito repellant brands. JEL Classification: M10, M30, M31, M37 Keywords: mosquito, repellent, malaria, rural market, buyers

 

pag. 53	The Polluter Pay Principle and the damage done: controversies for sustainable development Authors: Emaculate INGWANI,  Tendayi GONDO,  Trynos GUMBO
	Abstract In search for equity at the Rio summit, it was suggested that in case of pollution or any other environmentally negative effect, the costs are inflicted on the responsible agents to pay for the rectification. The Polluter Pay Principle (PPP) has since then been touted as a useful environmental management tool that makes provisions for innovative penalties seeking to place the burden of environmental pollution control on those that abuse the environment. Despite such euphoria, the results on the ground have been appalling. In this analysis we question the practical utility of the PPP viz avis the deteriorating environmental fabric of many nations. The analysis reveals that it is cheaper for many individuals, organizations or even countries to pollute the environment and pay a fine than to install systems that require the constant monitoring of the environment. Emphasis of the PPP is misplaced as it focuses on curing damages and not on the process that brings the environmental problems to a halt. Its implementation is further constrained by the difficulty associated with placing a price tag on environment parameters. We recommend a proactive alternative to PPP that emphasize on preventative measures through environmental education. The success of such a management strategy is however not spontaneous as it needs to be rooted upon an effective system of values, institutions, attitudes, personal commitment, self confidence and active participation of all individuals in managing and detecting environmental problems that affect them. JEL Classification: Q52, Q56 Keywords: Polluter Pay Principle, pollution cost, environment and development, sustainable development

 

pag.61	An investigation of challenges in managerial ethics and its role in sustainable development of Iranian industries Authors: Hamid Reza Salmani MOJAVERI,  Ali HASANI,  Meghdad Amhadi MOJAVERI
	Abstract This paper tries to demonstrate ethical value as being an essential element in order to achieve sustainability in many societies such as Iran. In addition this paper lays out some of obstacle and challenges about ethical issues in Iranian industries. The evidence from our investigation supports that employee and management rather tend to ethical values. JEL Classification: M12, M14, M51, M54, Q01 Keywords: ethic, managerial ethics, sustainable development, challenges

 

pag.72	NGOs and poverty issues in peri-urban areas Author:  Muhammad Haroon SIDDIQUE
	Abstract Poverty reduction is the top-most element in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by the United Nations those have provided a broad way for the development planning professionals on the globe to assess their past performance in the important aspects of development planning as well as to plan their strategies for the design period of 2000-2015. The United Nations sees the nations as members of a global family and expects them to work for the fellow-beings setting some guidelines, for instance, ‘The millennium Development Goals can be achieved if immediate steps are taken to implement existing commitment. JEL Classification: L31, I32, R51 Keywords: NGOs, poverty, peri-urban areas

 

pag. 89	Eccentric housing finance sources by the urban poor in Zimbabwe: case of Cowdray Park low-income self help housing scheme in Bulawayo Author: Trynos GUMBO
	Abstract Zimbabwe has a sombre housing crisis in all its urban centres. All attempts by the government to vary housing delivery systems to ameliorate the problem have proved futile as the backlog it inherited from the colonial masters continues to soar. The situation has however been exacerbated by 2005 demolitions and evictions in the country's major cities that destroyed homes and businesses leaving the majority of the poor and disadvantaged segments of society in deeper poverty, deprivation and destitution. The main challenge to housing the urban poor is housing finance. Public funds are meagre and private funds are not accessible to the poor due to lack of collateral security and inability to service the loans. Fascinatingly, the poor's income comes from informal sector activities that absorbs a large percentage of the labour force and keeps the economy going while the large modern enterprises continue to reel under the economic downturn. Unfortunately the Zimbabwean informal sector has generally been perceived as a nuisance, a haven for criminals and a menace. Evidence shows that there is a strong relationship between the urban poor's housing finance, informal sector activities and self-help housing strategies in Zimbabwe. In the pre-2005 Operation Murambatsvina era, the poor were making some construction progress as evidenced by the structures that had developed. This paper calls for active support and facilitation of the poor's sources of income, and advocates for the involvement of other players such as the private sector and the international community in housing the poor. The Zimbabwe government's plan to house the homeless and poor on its 250 000 stands countrywide through self-help programmes can only be successful if their sources of income are promoted and facilitated. JEL Classification: R31, R51, I32, I38 Keywords:  urban poor, housing finance, informal sector, self-help, projects

 

pag. 106	Capital investments in the context of time factor Author:  Mihai BOTEZATU
	Abstract The market economy creates various variants that an investor or another should know very well, should analyze them and choose the variant of investment which is the closes to its purposes. Such a variant of investments is the one that may materialize in certain manufacturing capacities, case in which the gain of the investor turns into profit; on this plan, we may assert that gaining much profit is the final purpose pursued by any investor in such a variant of capital placement. On the other side, we also must emphasize that profit is earned in time, and the time factor, on its turn, should be known, analyzed, localized and, certainly, quantified, so that the investment decision should not be empirical, but substantiated. This paper proposes to focus on few of the most important aspects of the impact of time factor on the capital investments, generally, and on their economic efficiency, particularly. JEL Classification: G11, G31 Keywords: profit, final profit, efficient period, functioning period, recovery period

 

pag. 119	Funds transfer pricing in banking Authors:  Maria CARACOTA DIMITRIU, Sorina Cristina OACA
	Abstract Every bank needs to better understand the sources of its profitability. Whatever the size of the bank, funds transfer pricing (FTP) can be used to help managing the bank's profitability by analyzing earnings for the whole institution or for different profit centers. In today's banking environment, it is essential to look at the earnings both as a whole and broken down into various components. Funds Transfer Pricing is an analysis tool that can be used to help a bank measure its profitability in a variety of different ways. It allows management to compare the profitability of different product lines within the company, and it can be drilled down even further to allow comparison between individual employees. It is also very useful for comparison between branches. This study will reveal the role of Fund Transfer Pricing (FTP) in banks. JEL Classification: G21, G32 Keywords: funds transfer pricing, profit, bank, business units

  

pag. 128	IT investments' features in the Romanian banking industry Author:  Camelia CIOLAC
	Abstract The paper aims to present some of the features of IT investments in the banking industry. Theoretical aspects, summarized from the literature come illustrated along with empirical findings from the Romanian banking industry. The present paper aims to provide the main drivers for IT investment in banks as well as the criteria involved when selecting a particular course of action in the associated decision-making process. The study is enriched with examples of software applications acquired by some of the major banks in Romania in the past seven years. The IT investment strategies presented in this paper can be considered proven successful practices of business-IT alignment in the Romanian banking industry. JEL Classification: M15, O33 Keywords: IT investments, Romanian banks, diversification, management, strategy

 

pag. 140	The power of management in medical services. Can we manage better for higher quality and more productive medical services? Authors:   Magdalena BARBU, Marian NASTASE
	Abstract Medical services are the most important services of all since we all depend on them. Their quality and productivity can assure a wealthy nation and therefore good economical results. The offer of medical services depends on medical personnel and more than this, on the management in the medical field since any resource not managed well or not managed at all is only a lost one, regardless its value. Management is therefore the key, the ''how to'' method of obtaining the desired result. The same approach can be applied into our study in order to reach more productive medical services which to prove high quality to all patients. We need to use and to squeeze the entire force of management tools in order to reach our goal: accessible medical services full of quality. The current worldwide crisis situation makes us think that after job and food, even medical services (also a basic thing after all) can become a ''luxury'' although this should never happen. Therefore we must do whatever needed to improve the way medical organizations are driven so that the quality of their medical services will be better and better and the productivity will be at a higher level. Medical management should have as a goal making it possible for patients to be able to solve their health problems as soon as possible and as good as possible. JEL Classification: M10, I11 Keywords: quality, productivity, medical services, human resources, management of health care organizations

 

pag. 148	Rebranding campaign of the Romanian Society of Radiodifusion - strategic option for the growth of the organization's efficacy Authors:  Ruxandra Irina POPESCU,  Razvan-Andrei CORBOS
	Abstract In 2008, the Romanian Society of Radio-broadcasting (SRR) decided to benefit of the „honorable'' of 80th anniversary of the Romanian public radio to elaborate and apply a strategy of creating a new image of SRR to assure the approach of an European profile well outlined and recognized so. The necessity of this „look'' change for the corporation and for six of its channels was motivated by a better position on the radio market in Romania and a larger visibility on a public segment with „preconceived'' ideas about what the public Radio means. As a result of the campaign, at the end of 2008 the achieved market quota of the Romania Radio grew, Romania News Radio becoming leader on the market. In this context, the paper proposes strategic actions that would contribute to the growth of the SRR efficacy: elaboration of a lasting marketing strategy, promotion of the channels with lower visibility, but that cover market segments of „niche'', organizing some special programs that would promote „special'' broadcasts dedicated to some „special'' days by „special'' people, collaboration with the Romanian Television to organize and broadcast, on the TV, some radio shows that will promote SRR on a large scale and diversified. JEL Classification: M37 Keywords: audiovisual services marketing, visual identity, promotion, outdoor campaign, market quote, audience

 

pag. 165	Need and potential risks of strategic alliances for competing successfully Author:   Catalina RADU
	Abstract In today's global economy, many companies' managers consider strategic alliances as a key strategic alternative. Even if it is true that strategic alliances can be a really powerful competitive tool, managers should pay attention to all potential risks before involving in a partnership. This paper aims to address a series of issues that may arise when forming a strategic alliance. JEL Classification: F21, F23, L14, L21, L24, L25, M16 Keywords: strategic management, strategic alliances, cross culture

 

pag. 170	The management of cultural adjustment: Central-South-East European ethnic minorities in the USA Author:  Mihaela ARSENE
	Abstract The paper focuses on one particular instance in the management of change as accomplished/implemented in the USA by the ethnic minorities originally from Italy, Greece and Romania. The author presents a diachronic survey of the literature against the author's own findings. The paper identifies common patterns in the cultural adjustment of all three ethnic groups surveyed and analyses them against the specific developmental pressures in each group. Historic, economic and sociological data contribute to outlining the distinct profile of each ethnic groups under investigation, as well as the assimilation patterns at work throughout its evolution in the new US cultural environment. JEL Classification: O15 Keywords: ethnicity affirmed, ethnicity under attack, peripheral ethnicity

 

pag.  179	The concept of stress and ways of managing it Author:  Mihaela MARARCINE
	Abstract There is no doubt that nowadays stress has become an element which exists in everybody's life. Although it is not by far a new phenomenon, nevertheless it becomes more and more important and it affects all countries, all professional and social categories, as well as family and society as a whole. It is very important both for human beings and for organizations to become aware of stress and to manage it in the right way, so that its negative effects can be annihilated and the performed activity not be affected. JEL Classification: M12 Keywords: organizational stress, stress effects, stress managementului

 

pag. 187	Efficient uses of some types of surfactant products Authors:  Ligia Florica BOTEZ, Camelia Georgeta CALIN, Georgiana Raluca GANCIU
	Abstract The present work is part of a more complex study referring to chemical substances known under the name of „surfactants'' or „tensioactive agents'' which can alter the conductivity of fibers, textile materials, etc. in order to diminish some negative physiological effects on the human body. The use of raw materials, indigenous or imported, refers to the strategy adopted by each firm, concerning their own technology, which should include both organization and management of production processes, and ways of introducing the technical progress with economic efficiency. JEL Classification: O30, O31 Keywords: surfactant, textile industry, latex, deformer, isoelectric point, technical progress

 

pag. 195	Auxiliaries for the textile industry and environmental protection Authors:  Sanda VISAN,  Ligia Florica BOTEZ
	Abstract The textile industry is an industrial field that affects the environment, from the plant growth until the production process. The obtaining of environmental licence for Romanian companies that produce textile products is related to elaboration and implementation of a modern system for an environmental management, that consist in utilization of ecological technologies for finishing, in diminution the water and energy consumption, cleaning of waste waters, reutilization of cleaned waters, sustainable management of wastes. In this study, the surfactant categories used in the textile industry that fulfil the conditions of environment protection, are presented. Some exemplifications were made involving the existing surfactants in Romanian textile industry, obtained from both domestic and external production. Also, some recommendation are suggested regarding the utilization of surfactants manufactured from either vegetal oils or chemical/petrochemical wastes, with similar properties as those from import having decreased prices an that affect as small as possible the environment. JEL Classification: L67, O13, Q56 Keywords:  textile industry, surfactant, pollution, environmental protection

  

pag. 204	Investments characteristics in infrastructure industry Authors:  Razvan Catalin DOBREA,  Nadia CIOCOIU, Stelian TIPA
	Abstract The development of the infrastructure has always represented a major priority at the level of all actors implied in the economic-social activity, from public authorities to private organizations and even civil population. The particularities of the investment projects in the infrastructure attract a more and wider private organizations category which analyses the infrastructure differences as potential business opportunities. The present paper presents a series of particularities specific for the investments in the infrastructure sphere as well as the main attraction factor for the private companies. JEL Classification: E22, H21, H54 Keywords: investments, efficiency, infrastructure

CONGRESE, CONFERINTE, SIMPOZIOANE, FORUMURI

 

pag. 211	Conference ''Steps toward success - Project Management'' Author:  Ravan Catalin DOBREA